Review: Alaska Airlines Credit Card

Decent initial bonus. If you charge at least $2,000 to your Alaska Airlines Credit Card within 90 days of account opening, you’ll get 40,000 bonus miles, redeemable for an average of $528, according to WalletHub data. That’s a pretty good deal for relatively light spenders, considering the best travel credit cards typically offer 40,000 to 50,000 bonus miles for spending $3,000 to $4,000 within the first three months.

Annual companion ticket pays for the annual fee. Spending at least $2,000 in the first 90 days you have the Alaska Air Visa also qualifies you for a free companion ticket the first year your account is open. Each year thereafter, you will receive another companion ticket soon after your account anniversary, provided your account is in good standing. Given that each companion ticket covers a $99 base fare and at least $22 in taxes, this annual perk will easily offset the Alaska Airlines Card’s $75 annual fee.

Lucrative, but limited rewards on purchases. The 1 mile per $1 spent that you will earn on most purchases made with the Alaska Air Credit Card is roughly the market average for a rewards card, according to WalletHub’s latest Credit Card Landscape Report. Unfortunately, only two types of purchases will provide a higher earning rate. You’ll get 3 points per $1 spent though Alaska Airlines, up to 5 points per $1 on dining at “Mileage Plan” restaurants. Considering that Alaska Airlines Credit Card points are worth about $0.0132 each, your earning rates translate to 1.32% to 6.6% cash back.

Free checked bags. Each time you purchase Alaska Airlines airfare with your Alaska Airlines Visa Card, you and up to six traveling companions will each get your first checked bag free. Alaska Air typically charges $25 for a standard checked bag, so this benefit could be worth as much as $175 each time you fly.

Not built for carrying a balance. It’s important to pay your Alaska Air Visa bill in full every month, as the card does not offer 0% intro rates or a low regular APR. Instead, you will be assigned a regular rate depending on your creditworthiness. The low end of that range is above the 14.56% average among credit cards for excellent credit, and the high end easily exceeds the 20.93% average among credit cards for good credit, according to WalletHub research. So if you credit score barely qualifies as “good,” you’re likely to overpay on interest.

Good credit required. The Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card requires good or excellent credit for approval. As a result, it’s a good idea to check your credit score for free before applying.

Alaska Airlines Credit Card's Rewards

Get 40,000 bonus miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ from $121 ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from just $22) after you make purchases of $2,000 or more within the first 90 days of opening your account.

Every year on your account anniversary get another companion fare from $121 ($99 plus taxes and fees from $22) on Alaska flights booked on alaskaair.com. There are no blackout dates.

Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent directly on Alaska Airlines purchases, and 1 mile per $1 spent everywhere else with no limit on miles earned.

Earn up to 5 miles per $1 spent using Mileage Plan Dining.

Free checked bag on Alaska flights for you and up to six other passengers on the same reservation.

Redeem miles with no blackout dates on any of Alaska’s 1,200 daily flights or chose from over 900+ destinations with more than a dozen airline partners.

Enjoy 50% off day passes at the Alaska Lounge and 20% back on all Alaska Airlines inflight purchases when you pay with your new card

There is no Alaska Airlines credit card with 50,000 bonus miles. The current offer is for 40,000 miles and a reduced-price companion fare. The spending requirement is $2,000 in the first 90 days after account opening. The bonus miles are worth around $525 when redeemed for airfare on Alaska Airlines or one of its 17 partner airlines. Those include American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Korean Air and others. Bonus miles and the companion fare code should appear on your statement within two billing periods after you’ve met the spending requirement. The card has a $75 annual fee.

In addition to the bonus offer, you’ll receive a companion fare deal every year on your account anniversary. Buy an Alaska Airlines ticket at the regular price, and you’ll get a second one for around $121. This includes a $99 fare, plus about $22 to cover taxes and fees. You also get one free checked bag on all Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to 6 companions on the same reservation.

The Alaska Airlines credit card gives 3 miles per $1 spent on Alaska Airlines purchases and 5 at select restaurants. All other purchases earn 1 mile for every $1 you spend.

If you’re a business owner, the Alaska Airlines Business card is very similar to the Visa card. It also offers a bonus of 40,000 miles and the companion fare deal. Plus, you’ll need at least good credit (700+ credit score) to qualify for either card.

You get a companion ticket (buy a round trip coach ticket on Alaska Airlines and receive the second for a $0 base fare plus taxes and fees) as an introductory offer for the Alaska Airlines credit card. To get it, spend more than $1,000 in the first 3 months.You also get a companion ticket every year on your account anniversary. But that annual ticket isn't as cheap; it costs $99 plus taxes and fees of at least $22. That's still less than most flights, though.

You can easily check your application Alaska Airlines Credit Card status online here. This works for any of Bank of America's credit cards. If you want a more traditional approach, call them directly at 800-732-9194.

The Alaska Airlines credit card foreign transaction fee is $0. So international purchases made with the Alaska Airlines and Alaska Airlines Business cards cost nothing extra. Bank of America credit cards that do have foreign transaction fees all charge 3%.

The two Alaska Airlines credit cards are among several Bank of America cards with 0% foreign transaction fees. No foreign transaction fee is just one of the perks that both Alaska Airlines cards offer, too. When you spend $2,000 in the first 90 days your account is open, you’ll get a companion ticket deal. Buy a ticket, and you’ll get another one for just $99 plus taxes and fees (currently $22+). You’ll also receive 40,000 bonus miles when you meet the same spending requirement. And there’s 3 miles per $1 spent on Alaska Airlines purchases, 5 at select restaurants and 1 on all other purchases.

Additionally, you’ll get that same companion fare deal every account anniversary. And you’ll receive one free checked bag on Alaska Airlines flights for you and up to 6 passengers on the same reservation.

Yes, you earn 1 mile for every $1 spent on all purchases, and that includes utility bills. This, of course, assumes that the billers in question accept credit card payments. Cash advances do not earn rewards and are prohibitively expensive. And paying a percentage surcharge to a third-party bill payment service wouldn’t be worth it just to earn points.

3.3 out of 5

Got approved for an Alaska Visa card. Great credit score. I printed out the "temporary" card information and began using it while waiting for my physical card. It took 4 hours to find a vacant motel room during the Senior Olympics and I used the credit card. I called after making my reservations to make sure they were good...no problem. My room was being held. My flight was delayed and I called again to let them know I was running late for checking in...only to be told I was cancelled because my credit card didn't go through! I had already placed $1300+/- on it and had a $5000 limit. Called the contact number which I obtained from the Alaska Airline Customer Service at SeaTac. Got tons of excuses. BofA wanted to confirm the transaction. Temp info is "not valid". The temp info was provided by Alaska Airlines and not BofA. You have the wrong expiration date. I was told the physical card takes 4-6 days. Yet the paperwork says 7-10 BUSINESS days. Nothing states how long the temp card is good for while waiting for the physical card. So, here I am, now with no housing in a sold location due to Olympics. They tell me they can "expediate" a card to me....but I have no where to expediate it to since I no longer have housing. I spent the next 6 hours trying to find some plus had to travel an extra 15 miles and much more to stay with a kind lady....arriving at 6am...just a few hours before we needed to meet the children we are adopting. Needless to say, we were exhausted. While looking for housing, other customers were more helpful... getting online to help me. The last thing three kids were are trying to adopt needed was another disappointment in their lives. Thanks to the kind lady that provided housing, we didn't have to disappoint them. But, Alaska Airlines or BofA, there is NO excuse for this. I'm not sure whose fault it is. BofA is blaming Alaska. Never once did I get a text, an email, or any other warning or notice that the card was, in effect, canceled. I asked that they pay the difference between motel costs....the next cheapest was over $180/nite. They refused, stating they don't do any compensation. This was the icing on the cake...after sitting for two hours in a hot plane on a delayed flight due to "lost paperwork". BEWARE. I canceled the card that night. The physical card has now arrived and is being destroyed.

Not happy with the Bank of America card customer service. Frequent problems, not getting card statements in the mail on mutilple occasions and yet they charge interest and fees. Cancelled both of our cards this year. Look elsewhere !!!

The "rewards" system for this credit card is a JOKE. The limits to what flights you can book are so limited, it's not even worth the companion fare option or the miles. And trying to upgrade using points? GOOD LUCK WITH THAT. Not a single ticket in first class can be booked if you want to upgrade. And for one flight I was trying to upgrade on, not a single ticket was booked, and they still wouldn't let me upgrade. And any money in your Alaska wallet to use for future use can't be used either. They just take your money and then treat you like you're asking for the moon if you want to use your money for anything than what you originally booked. Spending almost six figures on their credit card gets you nowhere b/c you can't use your points due to all these restrictions. Don't even bother with these snakes.

It started with 30000 bonus miles offer. They are not going to tell you that you are going to get 30000 bonus miles or not. That is the trick.
They didn’t gave me this offer and I came to know this after 3 months when I called Alaska airline coustomer care. They told me it’s not in our hand, you need to call BOA.
When I reached nearest branch, they told me it’s not in our hand. You need to speak with credit department.
When I spoke with them, they told me you have applied for Alaska visa signature card but you are eligible to get Alaska visa platinum card. So unfortunately we can give you those 30000 bonus miles.
So it is just trick to get more coustomer.
Don’t apply for this card by mistake.

I had this card for 25 years and my biggest issue with this card is customer service and the way they treat a card holder, especially when you need their customer support the most. On those rare occasions when I had to dispute a transaction (total of 3 times within the 25-year period), this card has always sided with the merchant, no matter how wrong, no matter how frodulant that merchant was, no matter how much supporting documentation I produced and no matter how black & white the issue was. I found dealing with their claims department to be an insulting experience because of utter stupidity of their staff, including supervisors. And so, after a quarter of a century of being a loyal member I canceled this card. During the process of cancelling it there was not even an attempt from the rep to find out why I was unhappy with their product or service. $75 in annual fees is excessive, given the low quality of support you receive.

Classic BAIT & SWITCH! WATCH OUT
Here’s a HUGE info tip for all your readers/followers:
Recently applied for the Alaska Airlines Signature Card for my wife online. She’d just passed the 5/24 rule and her inquiries dropped to 2, so thought it’d be a piece of cake, but …
First, some info: Her credit rating is 813. We own two houses outright, and our net worth is $1 million plus. We have no debt, and have been banking with BOA for years. My wife also earns $50,000 a year, and teaches for a school district.
So, you’d think all would be easy, right? Filled out the online application, and BOOM – “Congrats, you’ve been approved” - great, BUT – as I looked closer, approval was only for $1,000. Hmmm, so I started reading the fine print following the notice.
Ready? It said any approval with less than a $5,000 limit WOULD NOT receive the ‘Signature’ card. Rather, they would be sending the ‘Platinum Plus’ card instead. No bonuses offered under the ‘Signature’ card would be honored. SO, classic ‘BAIT AND SWITCH’ by BOA. I’ve called to get the issue resolved, but as of yet BOA’s only answer was: We can’t disapprove without issuing a lower card …. Or something like that. Meanwhile, I’ll just need to cancel the card if I’m not satisfied. Oh, and the inquiry is now logged, and my wife’s credit was knocked slightly. It’s more the principle of the whole thing.

I signed up for an Alaska credit card through Alaska Airlines and Bank of America.
My anniversary date of my Alaska CC is December 26th and that is confirmed by Bank of America.
Alaska airlines markets their credit card with many perks, one of those perks is a companion fare round trip airline ticket discount code / coupon for about $121.00 ($99 + taxes and fees).
This is a big reason for me, and many others, in deciding on applying for an Alaska Airlines credit card.
The Alaska Airlines WEB site states that the companion fare discount code will be added in the cardholder account on an annual basis dependent on your enrollment anniversary date.
As I stated above Bank of America confirmed to me that my CC anniversary date is Dec. 26th.
Knowing that Dec 26th date, we have been planning a family trip to Hawaii in March 2018, where we would use the companion fare to book a second ticket for about $121.00 ($99 + taxes and fees).
We also had a couple free 1st class upgrade options we would be using that expire 12/31/17. Very exciting.
I waited until Dec 26th to start checking my account hoping that the companion fare was added each day. I finally contacted Alaska airlines to find out when to expect the companion fare, so I could plan accordingly for booking our trip.
I was told that I would receive the companion fare after my credit card statement closing in the middle of January.
This delay and issuing of the companion fare by Alaska Airlines has affected pricing for our trip and therefore the dates we will be able to take our trip and we no longer will have the ability to use, the then expired, free 1st class upgrades.
We all have relationships in this world, weather with our significant others, the businesses we deal with or if we are a business, our customers.
Usually if you're giving a gift for your anniversary, three weeks after your actual anniversary, things don't go very well.
Each of us decides how important the relationship is and how important that anniversary is.
It is apparent by their actions that Alaska Airline doesn't put too much importance on the relationship with their credit card customers and their anniversary date.
I just think other consumers need to be aware of where you stand with Alaska airlines before signing up for their credit card.

:I applied for Alaska Signature credit card and they sent me platinum plus card which doesn't have any of the benefits with signature card. I had to close my account on the same day. This will still be recorded as opened and then closed account in my credit report. This experience has been frustrating and customer service is of no use. I have been a customer of so many banks, first ever experience with Bank of America which turned out be the worst experience of my life.

just wanted to add that I applied for this recently, wasn't approved online instantly but got a call from Visa and all it was was to confirm identity and that you actually applied for the card yourself. Was approved no problem and wasn't bumped to another card. You do have to have a moderate income and credit rating but for a card with those kind of awesome benefits, that's to be expected. I have yet to use the miles or anything like that but based on the companion fare ALONE, this card will be worth it!

Starla, do you mind me asking what your credit score at the time was? I was just denied card myself based on 'assessment of my application' and current economic trends' When I pulled my free Experian report I had all accounts (only 3) in good standing and and a credit score of 731.

BEWARE: If you apply for the Visa Signature card, Bank of America can open a credit line on ANY tier of the Alaska Airlines cards. You will only receive the advertised bonus miles if you are approved for a fairly high credit limit that earns you "visa signature status". And a high credit score alone is not adequate to get to that status. They do not have a system in place that extends you a counter-offer if you are not approved for signature. You will simply receive a lesser card in the mail and you are stuck with it. Even if they are able to approve you for a higher limit and upgrade to signature after the fact, you still will not get any of the bonus miles advertised in their offer. Without the bonus miles and signature benefits, the Alaska Bank of America cards are really not worth the fees.

This is a great credit card! If you pay it off each month, the interest rate doesn't matter. The companion fare each year is a wonderful perk not to mention the mileage earnings and bonus incentives for signing up! This allows my husband and I to take an extra trip each year without breaking the bank.

I couldn't be more happy with this card. It has become my favorite. People complain about the high annual fee, but it is well worth, and inexpensive compared to American Express. The rewards are great, and multiply fast. My favorite part is the companion ticket I get every year. It makes our flights for our annual trip much more inexpensive and allows us to spend the money on other parts of our trips!

This mileage program stinks!!!!!!! I had almost 1million miles in 2002 and have only been able to use under 200,000. Every time I book, there are no seats. Back in 2010 I tried to book some flights to Turkey. No seats for my date. So I extended my search to a 6 week time span for my date to ANYWHERE in Europe only to be told there were no seats available at all. I can't begin to guess how many times I've tried to redeem my miles with no luck. Not to mention the many many hours trying to use my points. Latest attempt/refusal....that was today. The saga continues.
Needless to say I've switched my plan to capital one and thus far have had no issues. Also no problems with my American Express card of 30 years or my Wells Fargo card.....only with Alaskan Airlines. I strongly suggest not getting this plan.

I've had the Alaska Airlines credit card for several years. Although the yearly fee is high, there are benefits to the card that outweigh that. I like the yearly companion ticket as well as the miles that build up for any purchase made using the card. I recently discovered the Alaska Airlines mileage shopping website, where if you purchase items through select vendors, you receive bonus miles. I'm happy to report there are several stores I frequently use on-line, including QVC! I'm looking forward to accruing more miles; great benefit!

I first got the Alaska Airlines Credit Card two years ago. My cousin was getting married in Hawaii, and I got the card to use the $99 companion ticket. What a deal! It is great that you get the companion ticket, as well as all the miles right away...there is no waiting to spend a certain amount before you get the benefits. Getting the companion ticket once every year is really the reason that I use the card, it is a great way to earn miles and get cheap airline flights. Also, Alaska Airlines is a great carrier to fly with! Great service and great flights. I have nothing but good things to say about this card and recommend to everybody.

I received my Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card just after I moved back from Alaska. When I first received it I was given a bunch of miles to sign up, however it was attached to an agreement to pay a fee each year for use. The perks are nice and include things like opportunities for extra mile earning, a companion fair for $80, and opportunity to use the miles with other carriers. The negative aspects of the card include increases in yearly fee, potential expiration of miles, and increases in the amount of miles required for a airline flight. This card can certainly be beneficial if you have enough spending to balance out the annual fee or travel a lot (especially with Alaska).

I’ve been using my Alaska Airlines credit card for about five years, and have always been satisfied. The mileage bonuses you receive are good, and if you use the card often enough, you can build up a useful amount of miles. I don’t usually get enough miles from the card to buy full mileage tickets, but it is useful for making up the difference when using miles received from purchasing other flights. It is a good card for people who commute often from Alaska to the west coast for school or work, as you can easily pay for a few flights, use your card often, and then have enough for additional Alaska airlines flights.

I first started using the Alaska Airlines Credit Card when I lived in Alaska 5 years ago. I have appreciated the benefits tremendously. I was able to use my miles to fly my in-laws to Alaska to visit. I have no complaints about the service or card use. The fee is reasonable considering the mileage benefit received, and Bank of America as a service provider has been good to work with. Just be sure to contact them before you travel so that their fraud department doesn't halt your credit card transactions! Otherwise, keep on buying and enjoying the benefit of all those Alaska Air miles!

I have been using the Alaska Airlines Credit Card for 10 years now, and the benefits have been tremendous. The companion fare that I have received each year has allowed myself and my family to fly back to Seattle more frequently and for much less cost. I have also been able to build up a large amount of frequent flyer miles, which can be used for discounted or complimentary flights anywhere Alaska or Horizon Air flies. Not only have the mileage benefits been good, but the Alaska Airlines credit card has also allowed me to maintain a good level of credit.

This is my first credit card and so far, so good. I've been using it for major purchases and have saved up a few miles. I live in Washington so Alaska Airlines is a great choice for me to travel. They seem to be pretty fair regarding their late fees and grace periods all though I have not been late in a payment yet. The annual fee is not too bad and it's great how many miles they give you to start out with! I have no complaints so far, and I plan to build up credit using this card. My parents have had their Alaska Airlines credit card for years and have taken full advantage of the miles. I love to travel and plan to do the same!

Yesterday for my little credit card review, I went down to Mexico with the AeroMexico Credit Card. Today, we’re goin the opposite direction with the Alaska Airlines Credit Card. First of all there are two types of people who should consider the Alaska Airlines Credit Card. People who want to take a trip to Alaska or one of Alaska Airlines’ other destinations and could use an initial rewards bonus offering a couple free flights and those who fly Alaska Airlines on the reg, as Kenny Powers would say. I'm not saying this card is good for either group, but the point is that not everyone can benefit from the Alaska Airlines Credit Card. Whether these groups even can depends on what it offers. First of all, the Alaska Airlines Credit Card gives you 25,000 bonus miles upon approval. It also provides a $99 companion ticket discount code whenever you book a flight through Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air. There’s also the 3 miles per $1 spent on those two airlines and 1 mile per $1 spent on retail purchases.
In reality it appears that the Alaska Airlines Credit Card is really only good for one group. People looking for an initial bonus won’t find much here, and considering that cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred offer $625 in travel accommodations on any airline or at any hotel, something like that would both be more lucrative and provide more flexibility. The Alaska Airlines Credit Card is a fine choice for frequent Alaska Airlines flyers though, especially if you travel with family.

We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. When you click "Apply Now" you will be directed to the offering institution's website. In addition, keep in mind that actual rates and other information may vary for a number of reasons including the applicant's' creditworthiness and differences between an individual's situation and the criteria/assumptions used to generate the information displayed. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.

Ad Disclosure: Offers originating from paying advertisers are noted as “Sponsored” at the top of this page. Advertising may impact how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.

Irrespective of whether an offering institution is a paid advertiser, the presence of offer information on WalletHub does not constitute a referral or endorsement of the institution by us or vice versa. Furthermore, offers have not been reviewed or approved by the offering institution. Information is displayed first and foremost to help consumers make better decisions.

Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. In addition, it is not issuer’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. When you click "Apply Now" you will be directed to the offering institution's website. In addition, keep in mind that actual rates and other information may vary for a number of reasons including the applicant's' creditworthiness and differences between an individual's situation and the criteria/assumptions used to generate the information displayed. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.

Ad Disclosure: Offers originating from paying advertisers are noted as “Sponsored” at the top of this page. Advertising may impact how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.

Irrespective of whether an offering institution is a paid advertiser, the presence of offer information on WalletHub does not constitute a referral or endorsement of the institution by us or vice versa. Furthermore, offers have not been reviewed or approved by the offering institution. Information is displayed first and foremost to help consumers make better decisions.

Editorial Disclaimer: Editorial and user-generated content on this page is not provided, commissioned, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer. In addition, it is not issuer’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.